Universal pricing at ASDA

Edwardia

One of the head honchos from ASDA was on BBC Radio Five Live this morning discussing the North-South Divide.

ASDA is working towards universal pricing. This most likely won't affect you if you live in the South too much but in the North it means your cheaper prices will go up.

The idea is that a prodyct will cost the same wherever you live. That will seem fair to many and unfair to others.

Should everyone pay the same or should prices be in line with local cost of living ?

Lynsey

I think we should all pay the same prices for the same products, just hope the "universal pricing" is not to set all prices at the higher cost charged!!
I'm not too sure if the prices are cheaper up north? When I've visited London to see my Son, the prices in the supermarkets have been the same as up north anyway. If anything, I think the local markets in London can be cheaper (and a better variety) than up north.
I'm only really comparing the North East with London.

You'd imagine that prices would be higher in London due to high rents etc??
I wonder if Asda (and others) pay their staff more in London than say Newcastle??

Lynsey

midnightraven3

if only we could have the range of products as well
i searched for garlic powder now they have stopped selling the bags of rajah :mad:

i would need to buy a jar, £1.19 for a third of the amount i was paying 59p for
if i dont sign in, so my location isnt specific
i can buy 400g for £1.08 :eek:

http://www.mysupermarket.co.uk/#/asda-compare-prices/herbs_and_spices/natco_garlic_powder_400g.html

i emailed asda
and told this is only available in the south

moggymutt

We suffer not from North/South divide, but the fact we are rural and so next supermarket is 20 miles away. We are in the highest price category. Even the deputy manager goes to a cheaper branch to use his discount card. The store is on a main A road between other Coops, so delivery to our store does not even use any extra deisel. So much for Coop supporting farming communties.

Valli

midnightraven3 wrote: »

if only we could have the range of products as well
i searched for garlic powder now they have stopped selling the bags of rajah :mad:

i would need to buy a jar, £1.19 for a third of the amount i was paying 59p for
if i dont sign in, so my location isnt specific
i can buy 400g for £1.08 :eek:

http://www.mysupermarket.co.uk/#/asda-compare-prices/herbs_and_spices/natco_garlic_powder_400g.html

i emailed asda
and told this is only available in the south

much like they don't sell tripe and pig's trotters and cow heels dahn sarf;)

This is a jokey comment and I am from ooop North!

VoucherMan

So long as they keep the price guarantee they can put the prices up as much as they want for me.

I'll just get a bigger voucher.

Clowance

surely the prices in the south west then should be as cheap as the north or cheaper as wages are rock bottom and housing costs are sky high?

custardy

Lynsey wrote: »

I think we should all pay the same prices for the same products, just hope the "universal pricing" is not to set all prices at the higher cost charged!!
I'm not too sure if the prices are cheaper up north? When I've visited London to see my Son, the prices in the supermarkets have been the same as up north anyway. If anything, I think the local markets in London can be cheaper (and a better variety) than up north.
I'm only really comparing the North East with London.

You'd imagine that prices would be higher in London due to high rents etc??
I wonder if Asda (and others) pay their staff more in London than say Newcastle??

Lynsey

All of the big four supermarkets – Tesco, Asda, Morrisons and Sainsbury’s – operate a form
of zonal pay for retail colleagues. The approaches adopted vary but each has different rates
of pay for staff in different zones. For example, at Asda there are three sets of pay rates for
retail colleagues in London, middle (covering stores in the South East and Eastern regions),
and provincial stores.

top of page 8 if you wish to see the context.
http://www.unison.org.uk/file/IDS%20research%20paper%20for%20UNISON%20FINAL%2016%2009%2011%20(2).pdf

So by this reasoning they want to offer a cut in the income of many staff,if they balance the prices to the higher end.

Middy

Lynsey wrote: »

.

You'd imagine that prices would be higher in London due to high rents etc??
I wonder if Asda (and others) pay their staff more in London than say Newcastle??

Lynsey

I had a quick look at the job vacancies on Sainsburys website. The checkout colleagues and general department assistants get 20p an hour more in the London stores than elsewhere. I think other shops operate a similar pay policy.

Lynsey

Thanks custardy and Middy.
So Asda would have 3 price bands??
20p extra per hour is not a lot considering rents may be double on average in London than in some other areas, maybe treble in places??
I did hear a while back, so don't know if it happens now, but Asda would only start you on a part-time basis of say 16 hours and expect you to work full time hours when requested??

Any shop workers want to state their hourly rates at the bottom end and state location?? Is the lowest pay on or near the minimum rate for the lowest workers??
I'd imagine the top managers will get looked after though!!

Lynsey

rochycoo

asda pay just above minimum wage for day staff and an extra £2 per hour for night shift workers. currently they are starting people on 1 day per week contracts, minimising holiday pay and sick pay. as far as i know asda try to charge the same prices for goods no matter where in the country you live. thats why you wont find them all over central london, unlike tesco, who hike the prices in these locations due to increased cost.